Pelicans' Ryan Anderson to undergo season-ending neck surgery

Ryan Anderson (right) has officially been ruled out for the rest of the 2013-14 season. (Layne Murdoch/Getty Images)

The Pelicans announced Tuesday that forward Ryan Anderson will undergo neck surgery and that his 2013-14 season is complete. The six-year veteran will undergo surgery to address a herniated cervical disc on April 8.

Anderson, 25, has not played since Jan. 3, when he suffered the neck injury during a game against the Celtics. He had to be taken off the court on a stretcher after colliding with Gerald Wallace.

In the immediate aftermath of the injury, which required that Anderson be hospitalized, the Pelicans announced that he would be out indefinitely.

New Orleans saw its season go sideways due to injuries sustained by Anderson, center Jason Smith, and starting point guard Jrue Holiday, who underwent season-ending leg surgery back in February. With Anderson, a talented and smooth-shooting stretch forward, New Orleans went 12-10 (.545) this season. Without him, they are 18-30 (.375).

Anderson averaged 19.8 points and 6.5 rebounds in 36.1 minutes over 22 appearances this season, and he also missed time earlier in the year with a minor foot injury. The Cal product is in the second year of a four-year, $34 million contract.

The Pelicans (30-40) have been eliminated from the Western Conference's playoff chase.